The Supreme Court upholds the life imprisonment sentence of a South Korean pastor who exploited three minors through forced labor. In a decision penned by Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, the SC Third Division found Si Young Oh, also known as “Steve Oh,” guilty of violating Republic Act No. 9208, also known as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. | PHOTO: National Privacy Commision website / privacy.gov.ph
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Storm Kristine
MANILA, Philippines — Work in first and second level courts in Luzon remained suspended for Thursday, October 24, due to severe tropical storm Kristine (international name: Trami), the Supreme Court (SC) said.
The suspension included all courts and offices in Judicial Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B and V as well as the National Capital Region Judicial Region, the SC Office of the Court Administrator announced in a memorandum on Wednesday evening.
Work in the Supreme Court, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals were likewise suspended for Thursday.
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Despite the suspension, the SC said it will maintain skeletal workforces in the Docket-Receiving Station of the Judicial Records Office as well as the Financial Management and Budget Office’s Cash Collection and Disbursement Division.
The SC reminded the courts and offices in Luzon to remain accessible to lawyers, court users and litigants through their contact numbers and email addresses to attend to urgent concerns if practicable.
READ: Kristine about to make landfall in Isabela
It added, “Incidentally, and if there is an opportunity, the Judges should monitor the conditions or status of their court premises or Halls of Justice to determine or conduct any required clean-up operation or repair/rehabilitation work.”
The SC also said that suspension of court operations in judicial regions outside Luzon were at the discretion of concerned Executive Judges and Presiding Judges in compliance with OCA Circular No. 354-2023.
Severe Tropical Storm Kristine made landfall in Divilacan town in Isabela province, as of 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 24, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.
The state weather bureau on Wednesday evening said Kristine was projected to cross Northern Luzon into waters west of Ilocos Region by Thursday before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility on Friday.